There were cries of “My handicap has been crucified,” this morning at SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week 2024, after some boats scored huge wins in yesterday’s Tan Lines Distilling Race Day, one claiming, “we were just lucky in the light air,” but the handicapper plays fair and the first day is always difficult with a new fleet and such a mix of boats.
The reality is though, that everyone is having a good time at Townsville Yacht Club’s (TYC) annual event, which is 17 years old this year. So crews were this morning preparing for Townsville City Council Race Day and for Tropical Shirt Day and it was perfect tropical weather for it. There will be prizes awarded tonight for the best dressed.
A mammoth effort was put in by crews. To the sounds of ‘Macarena’ Vicki Hamilton’s local Akarana crew cut a swathe through competitors at Peppers Blue on Blue resort marina before racing this morning. The blokes were sporting tropical budgie smugglers, dancing along the docks, hips swivelling, with the females of the crew.
Around the World winning yachtswoman, Wendy Tuck, also had her Making Waves Kayle (NSW) crew dressed up. However, Tuck is claiming she misheard shirts for skirts, so her crew were wearing tropical hula skirts!
“This is my third time here, but I haven’t been for a long time,” Tuck said. We’re here with the Making Waves Foundation (MWF). Before Maggie Island started, we were in Townsville and took some black African refugee kids out and then we took out some kids with disabilities from two local schools out. We all had such a good time. Some moments brought tears to your eyes.
“This is the first time MWF has been to Townsville and we’d love to come back. We’re here and other places raising awareness of what this charity does. We’re also asking for donations, as it’s the only way we can keep going.” For those who would like to know more, or donate to the charity, please go to: https://makingwaves.au/
To top off an already good day, Making Waves won Spinnaker Division 1 from Gordon Ketelbey’s TP52, Zen: “We’re very happy,” Tuck said. “We went from last yesterday to first. It was a very busy and interesting start, but we got away in a nice sea breeze of 8-10 knots, but it mostly averaged 8 knots throughout the race.
“We had a reach at the end and that’s where your waterline length comes into play,” Tuck shared, before adding, “The crew did a good job, so they’re all happy.”
Chris Morgan’s La Quinta crew wore colourful shirts featuring pineapples – very apt for the region – and they looked fabulous.
Colin and Denise Wilson’s Never a Dull Moment crew also went to a lot of trouble with their ensembles. On board is a friend of the Wilson’s, Micha Wuerfele from Black Forest in Germany. He said he had never experienced anything like it.
“This is my first regatta and my first on a boat like this,” Wuerfele stated. “It’s an amazing island and our team is like a family. I heard about this regatta from Colin and Denise and I just had to come and be part of it,” he ended, looking bemusedly at the Akarana crew.
On board too is Heather Broad, “our special tactician,” Colin said. “I’ve got my apprentice with me – Mr Broad,” said Heather, referring to her husband Ian Broad, one of Sydney’s finest yachties and sailmakers. He’s now retired and moved away from Sydney, but still sails.
Back into the racing, local Townsville sailor, Janette Syme, notched up her first win with Espera in the Non-Spinnaker division.
“We had a very good start and were well-placed at the first windward mark. By the time we got to the leeward mark, we were still in touch with the front of the fleet. We lost ground going upwind the second time, but we didn’t do too much wrong and the crew work was good. It was an extra knot of wind from yesterday, so it made a difference to the boat,” Syme said of her Beneteau Oceanis 390.
In the multihull division, newcomer Jason Lea’s Pali Pali (Indian Sanskrit for ‘quick, quick, hurry, hurry’) had a good tussle with Salacia (owned by local Owen Day) and Mixed Nutz (James Cormack, NSW), but the Seawind 1160 held them off to win.
“I’m exhausted, tired and chuffed,” Lea, from Brisbane said. “We got all our tacks right, all our angles right and then it was a matter of watching out for everyone else, not making any mistakes, or as few as possible.
“It was a challenging day though. It was a little fickle for us, I prefer stronger winds, so I’m looking forward to Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday when heavier winds are expected.”
Lea put their win down to, “A very good start and good work by my crew. This is my first time at Maggie – I’m from Brisbane. It’s a heck of an eye opener. I’s like being at home in Brisbane. We’re very much enjoying it. The camaraderie at the marina is very pleasing. We’re very thankful to the owners of these berths for moving out so we can be here for the week,” Lea said.
It is layday and Father’s Day tomorrow, so no racing. All will be out celebrating Townsville Airport Father’s Day at Picnic Bay on the Island from 9am, where there will be plenty to entertain adults and children. You can read all about it at the official website.
Racing continues on Monday from 11am.
For all information including full results please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au
By Di Pearson/SMIRW media
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MIRW2024
And on Instagram: #miraceweek
